Seattlites, tune in to 1150AM KKNW this Wednesday from 8am-9am when Bob Betz of Betz Family Winery and I will be talking about Washington wine on TableTalk.

Taste Washington! is coming up this weekend. Here are some ways to make the most of this year's event.

1. Check out the seminars

There are a series of education seminars Saturday and Sunday morning exploring topics like food and wine pairing; Washington's top vineyard sites; and where Washington fits in the world of wine. Read the full list of seminars here.

2. One day or two?The Grand Tasting is taking place over two days this year. You can attend one day ($75/$125 VIP) or two ($99/$150 VIP). The lineup will be the same both days, but this means that you can potentially sample from a larger number of wineries or not feel as rushed if you decide to attend both days.

3. Make a plan for the Grand Tasting

There are over 200 wineries represented at Taste Washington, so it is only possible to taste wines from a small fraction of them even if you do go both days. You can take a walk and wander approach and taste at wineries as you come across them, or you can have a specific plan of attack.

In terms of making a specific plan, look at the list of participating wineriesand categorize ones that you a) definitely want to check out, b) ones that you really hope to go to and c) ones that are on the bubble. Some wineries pour out early, so make sure to visit the ones you definitely want to visit first. You can also make a point of focusing on a single varietal or type of wine. I always like to try to visit wineries I am unfamiliar with as well.

4. Get the lay of the land

The conference center is a massive place and the layout can be a bit confusing at times when you are looking for a particular winery. Make sure to check out the map of the event in the event guide to help get oriented before you go (Note: opens .pdf).

5. It’s hip to spit!

The great thing about Taste Washington is that you are able to taste a large amount of Washington wine in a single setting. However, you can taste even more wine if you make a point to spit most of it out during the event. In previous years there have been spit cups and buckets placed everywhere throughout the event hall. If there are not this time around, grab a cup from the espresso bar and use it to spit into and then pour into the dump buckets. You’ll have a much better time (and a better recollection of the event the next day!). Regardless of whether you spit or not, I strongly advise taking a cab to and from the event.

6. Eat early, eat often

There’s lots of great food at the event so make sure to take advantage of it. In particular, check out the oyster and chowder bar which has a seemingly endless supply of oysters. If you are a vegetarian, it can sometimes be somewhat difficult to find food at times, so keep that in mind.

7. Check out the Taste the Vineyards section

There is a section devoted to vineyards where you can check out wines made from a single source. Vineyards represented this year include Boushey, Cold Creek, and Northridge. See the complete list in the program guide. This area tends to be pretty quiet so you can taste a number of wines reasonably quickly and talk to people about their vineyards.

8. Keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for special 'under the table wines'

Some wineries bring special treats for their Social Media fans. Keep an eye out on Facebook and Twitter before and during the event for special 'under the table' wines.

9. Have fun!

This is a great event, so make sure to have a good time. Things can get quite crowded at times. If the lines at a particular table get long, try moving on to another spot and coming back. There’s more than enough wine out there.

Below are a just few wines being poured at the event that I have either had before and recommend checking out or am excited to try. Feel free to comment with your own list (or, of course, keep it very, very secret).

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3. Made a list of about 50 wineries and over 100 wines to try. Going to be a busy two days!

4. Map Printed, although they will provide one upon entry.

5. SPIT SPIT SPIT! As someone who volunteered at this event a couple years ago, I can tell you people drink far too much and spit far too little. At the end of the day last year people would just walk up to a table with nobody at it, stare for a second and just point at the wines without saying anything. Some wineries were smart and cut them off, others, not so much. PLEASE SPIT! And know your limit! And Sean is right, take a taxi home or call a sober friend.

6. Malbec cake balls last year, as well some great food from Ivar's. I go for the food as much as I go for the wine!

7. The vineyards section was one I enjoyed last year. Looking forward to it again, and I'll definitely spend more time there this year.

8. One winery last year had the best wine I had at the whole event under their table. Hoping to see if they do it again this year. The name of the winery is my little secret though. :)

9. Go to some wineries you've never heard of. There are a LOT of wineries that are flying under the radar and are making some fantastic wines. Part of the fun is just trying something new. Ever tried AniChe Cellars wines? Go try their Barbera. What about Purple Star's Syrah? Or Fall Line's wines? Or Sky River Mead? The list goes on and on. Also don't forget about Columbia, Columbia Crest and Chateau Ste Michelle. Despite being big wineries, they do make some excellent wines!